The Second Farmers' Harvest Festival fell on September 23 this year. The festival was created last year and falls on Autumn Equinox, one of the 24 Solar Terms, a calendar of 24 periods and climates to govern agriculture in ancient China.

It's important for a large agricultural country like China to have such a festival. It reflects the great attention the Chinese Government pays to agriculture, rural areas and farmers and the government's deep concern for farmers.

The great achievements of China's rural reform and development in the past 70 years since the founding of the People's Republic of China have been realized as a result of Chinese farmers' hard work. The festival has greatly

improved farmers' sense of honor and confidence. For the whole society, to celebrate harvest means paying tribute to farmers for their hard labor and contribution, and creating a suitable environment for respecting labor and farmers.

Agriculture is related to a country's national strength. For a country with a population of nearly 1.4 billion, food security concerns the wellbeing of the people and constitutes an important part of national security. China realized bumper summer grain harvest again this year, which helped to ensure supply, stabilize prices and increase confidence in the economy.

The festival will contribute to turning agriculture into an industry with bright prospects, and making farming a desirable profession and rural areas livable places.

(This is an edited excerpt of an article originally published in Opinion.people.com.cn on September 23)